AS350B Ecureuil, G-JESI

Summary:

The helicopter had been airborne for approximately 25 minutes on a private flight from a private site near Milton Keynes to Manchester when the pilot became aware of an acrid burning smell in the cockpit. This was accompanied by smoke emanating from behind the lower left side of the instrument panel. Flames appeared and the smoke worsened so the pilot took immediate action to land in a field and vacate the helicopter, which was then destroyed by the subsequent fire.